The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-05
COlman's Early Life.


Comm oner Norman j. Colman re-
Gently narrated to party of friends in
Washington this episode in his early
life; "When was young man drift
ed into Louisville, Ky. l had nothing
to do and determined to study law.
had but two or three old law books. and
not money enough to buy more. l took
a room and patched it. Did you ever
batch itp TO exc out an existence
and earn a little money TO live on and
buy books. taught school. used to
90 to bake shop and buy things to
eat. and take them up to my room and
eat them. One day l went into the
bakery and bought loaf of brown
bread and 10 cents worth OF cake. J
saw another young man across the shop
who bought loaf of brown bread and
10 cents worth of cake. looked al
him closely, but he did not seem to
notice me. Finally l went up to him
and So d:
1--WE seem to be buying similar
things"
He stared at me, but did not seem
disposed to be friendly.
Il am keeping bachelors hal" ]
continued.
80 am l." replied the stranger.
81 take my things home and eai
them" | continued.
$50 do /, )" replied the young man.
81 am trying to study law l went
THAT is just exactly what | am do
ing" exclaimed the young man.
"And l am teaching school to earn q
little money" continued.
80 am l." was the response.
We both smiled at each other and
shook hands.
"Then don't see why we should not
chum together" l said, "and save OK
penses.,'
81 was thinking the same thing" re-
piled my unknown friend of the bake
shop.
Before we had left the shop we had
agreed to room together. The only
question was whether he should come
to my room, or go to his.
LET us 90 to the best place.. | said.
My quarters were so poor and hum
BILE did not wish him to come to me.
His were so bad he would not let me see
them, or tell me what street they were
on. The upshot of it was that in less
than two hours he moved to my room.
He got horse and wagon. and brought
table, two chairs, his trunk and few
law books. We read law together, and
taught school in different parts of the
city. In a Year or two we decided to
begin the practice of law. 1t was
agreed that my chum should go over to
New Albany and put out single, and
start in. was to remain in Louis.
vile, teaching, to earn enough to live
on and keep up the supplies. If he
made any thing ut the practice of law
was to have half, and he was to have
half of all | earned until such time as
we could see our way clear TO live and
practice together. Well he prospered.
and made money, and the new firm did
well. In time he became district at
torney."
Both of you must have been Yam
KEGS" said q gentleman who was list
enng to the story.
True replied Mr.. Colman. He was
from Pennsylvania and | was from
York state"
"And who was your partner, the
gentleman asked.
Michael e. Kerr, late speaker of
the house of representatives. was the
modest reply.
There is whole volume OF romance
in that simple and pathetic ] tile story.
The confidence these two men showed
in each other. the honesty and simple.
ity of their character, the days of toll,
struggle and privation ultimately
crowned with success, point moral
and adorn tale which is characterist.
ically American. Such men are bound
to come to the top. and both did. MIR.
Kerr has been dead for some years, but
Mr.. Colman is the able head of the
bureau of agriculture.